Tandem table frame assembly

ABSTRACT

A frame assembly for a display table of the type commonly used in department stores for the display and storing of software goods. The frame assembly has three types of frame sections which are a side frame section, an end frame section and an intermediate frame section. Any even number of side frame sections may be used to provide a tandem assembly of any desired length. The side frames have upper and lower door tracks for sliding doors which tracks are continuous for the entire length of a tandem unit. The side frames have upper and lower tubular members which are also continuous for the entire length of a tandem unit and facilitate the assembly of a unit.

3,419,319 12/1968 Jentzen...................... 312/257 3,428,385 2/1969 312/257 Primary ExaminerPatrick D. Lawson Assistant Examiner-George H. Krizmanich Attorney-Wayne B. Easton Inventor Jay G. Fenwick Albert Lea, Minn. Appl. No. 861,665 Filed Sept. 29, 1969 Patented Mar. 30, 1971 Assignee Streater Industries, Inc.

Albert Lea, Minn.

United States Patent 12/1965 Schulze........................ 312/108 assembly ofa unit.

PATENTEU man um SHEET 2 BF 2 INVENTOR.

JTTOPIUEV TANDEM TABLE FRAME ASSEMBLY The invention relates to a new and improved frame assembly for a display table of the type commonly used in department stores for displaying and storing software goods.

Department stores are being constructed at a rapid rate and large numbers of software display tables are required for these stores. Competitive conditions make economies which may be effected very desirable but over the years display tables have not been the subject of intensive cost-saving developments to the same extent as other products.

A main object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved frame assembly for a display table which may be manufactured economically while having adequate strength and rigidity for its intended purpose. Another object is to provide such a frame assembly having only three different frame sections which can be assembled and disassembled quickly and easily and which can be assembled in tandem to provide any desired length.

Another object is to provide such a frame assembly having a unique side frame which incorporates door tracks for sliding type doors which door tracks are continuous for the entire length of a resulting tandem assembled unit. Another object involves the providing of upper and lower tubular members for the side frame which facilitate the easy assembling of units while contributing substantially to an overall cleanliness of design and to the strength of assembled units.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following specification, drawings and appended claims.

In the drawing:

P16. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a tandem table frame assembly embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary, exploded perspective view which features the intermediate frame of the frame assembly; and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, exploded perspective view which features the intermediate frame of the frame assembly.

The complete tandem table frame assembly shown in FIG. 1 includes four identical side frames to 13, two identical end frames 14 and 15, and an intermediate frame 16. As may be deduced from the drawing, the frames 10 to 16 fit together to form a frame assembly for a table. The table is of the type used in department stores for displaying goods thereon and for storing goods in the storage cabinet space formed in the interior thereof.

Due to identicalness, only side frame 12 will be referred to relative to the detailed parts thereof. Side frame 12 includes a generally rectangular frame member 20 having four sides 21 to 24 in a vertical plane and four flanges 25 to 28 extending inwardly respectively from the four sides. Flanges 25 to 27 are in spaced relation to the outer perimeter of frame member 20 and flange 28 is flush with the lower edge of the lower side 24 of the frame member 20. Frame side 22 has an outwardly extending, overhanging two door track section 30 with two longitudinally extending, narrow strips 31 and 32 in spaced relation to each other and frame side 22 to form two downwardly facing door tracks. Mounted on track section 30 and attached thereto as by welding or the like is an upper longitudinally extending tubular member 34 having a rectangular cross section. A lower longitudinally extending tubular member 35 having a rectangular cross section is attached to the lower portion of frame side 24 as by welding and is in the same general plane as upper tubular member 34.

An upwardly facing channel member 38 of narrower width than tubular member 35 is attached thereto flush with the outer edge thereof. Channel sides 39 and 40 of channel member 33 are in spaced relation to frame side 24 to form an upwardly facing two door track section 42 which is in alignment with the downwardly facing two door track section 30. The respective ends of tubular members 34 and 35 and the ends of the door track sections 30 and 42 are in vertical alignment so that the joining of two side frames, such as frames 12 jacent tubular members and door track sections to provide continuity for the entire length of the table.

End frame 14, which is identical to end frame 15, includes a generally rectangular frame member 50 having four sides 51 and 54 in a vertical plane with four flanges 55 extending outwardly from the outer edges of the four sides to provide rigidity. A flange 56 extends inwardly from the lower edge of the upper frame side 51. Flange 56 extends substantially across the width of the opening defined by the frame sides 51 to 54. A pair of legs 57 are attached to end frame 14 by having the upper ends thereof fastened by welding or the like to the underneath side of the ends of flange 56 and the lower ends of the legs attached to the lower frame side 53.

End frame 14 has four short tubular studs 58 having rectangular cross sections extending inwardly from the four corners thereof which are female parts relative to tubular members 34 and 35 in which they are insertable. Studs 58 are respectively spaced from the comers of frame 14 such that the upper and outer sides of tubular members 34, and the lower and outer sides of tubular members 35, are aligned or merge with frame flanges 55 to provide unbroken surfaces to facilitate the adding of wood panels or the like to the frame assembly.

The end frame 14 is joined to the side frames 10 and 12 by telescopically inserting the studs 58 into the tubular members 34 and 35. In the joined position tubular members 34 and 35 abut the frame sides 51 to 54 with the legs 57 being nested in the angles formed respectively by the frame side 21 and flange 25 thereof of frame 12 and by the frame side 23 and flange 27 thereof of frame 14. With this construction there are optional fastening or locking means which may be utilized. One known locking means referred to as locking horns (not shown) would comprise resiliently biased buttons in the studs 58 which 'would cooperate with appropriately positioned holes in the tubular members 34 and 35 to hold the parts in their joined positions. The use of locking horns would allow the table assembly to be assembled without tools. Screws and nuts could also be used as fastening means by their utilization between frame flanges 25 and the legs 57.

Intermediate frame 16 comprises a pair of vertically extending tubular members 64 joined at their lower ends by two oppositely arranged angle iron members 65. A pair of legs 68 are attached as by welding to the lower ends of tubular members 64 in inwardly offset relation thereto. Tubular connectors 70 of rectangular cross section are female parts relative to tubular members 34 and 35 and are used to join the respective tubular members 34 and 35 of the side frames 10 and 13. Connectors 70 and the adjoining tubular members 34 and 35 may likewise be equipped with locking horn attaching means as suggested with respect to studs 58.

In the assembled state the tubular member 64 is nested between adjacently disposed frame flanges 25 and 27 which has the same width as tubular member 64. The edges of adjacent frame sides 21 and 23 are in abutting engagement and this is facilitated by reason of the width of each side of tubular member 64 being twice the widths of frame sides 21 and 23. Screens and nuts may be used as fastening means with this construction by their utilization between frame flanges 25 and 27 and tubular member 64.

With the use of any desired number of intermediate frames 16 the table assembly may be made as long as desired. In any such assembly two end frames 14 and 15 are required. Sliding type doors (not shown) are intended to be installed between door track sections 30 and 42. End panels (not shown) may be attached to end frames 15 and 16. Floor sections (not shown) may be installed by utilizing side frame flanges 23 and the intermediate frame angle irons 65. A top may be installed by attaching it to the tops of side frame tubular members 34 and the top surfaces of end frames 14 and 115.

I claim:

1. A tandem table frame assembly comprising at least two rectangular side frames in tandem each having upper and lower horizontally extending tubular members and each havand 13, resultsin the joining in abutting engagement of ading upper and lower door tracks in respective abutting engagement with said tubular members and in mutually facing relation, each of said frames having vertically extending posts at opposite ends thereof, a rectangular end frame, a pair of upper and lower horizontally extending studs on one side of said end frame in telescopic engagement with the tubular members of 5 one of said side frames, a transversely extending intermediate frame member having a vertically extending post at least at one end thereof which is disposed between and in abutting engagement with adjacent ones of said posts of said side frames, and a pair of female connectors telescopically fitted in adjoining ones of said tubular members.

2. A tandem table frame assembly according to claim 1 wherein said end frame has a pair of legs attached thereto on 

1. A tandem table frame assembly comprising at least two rectangular side frames in tandem each having upper and lower horizontally extending tubular members and each having upper and lower door tracks in respective abutting engagement with said tubular members and in mutually facing relation, each of said frames having vertically extending posts at opposite ends thereof, a rectangular end frame, a pair of upper and lower horizontally extending studs on one side of said end frame in telescopic engagement with the tubular members of one of said side frames, a transversely extending intermediate frame member having a vertically extending post at least at one end thereof which is disposed between and in abutting engagement with adjacent ones of said posts of said side frames, and a pair of female connectors telescopically fitted in adjoining ones of said tubular members.
 2. A tandem table frame assembly according to claim 1 wherein said end frame has a pair of legs attached thereto on said one side thereof.
 3. A tandem table frame assembly according to claim 2 wherein said intermediate frame has a pair of vertically extending posts at opposite ends thereof, said intermediate frame having a pair of legs inwardly spaced from said pair of posts.
 4. A tandem table frame assembly according to claim 1 including alignment means between adjacent ones of said posts.
 5. A tandem table frame assembly according to claim 5 wherein said alignment means comprises studs and holes for said studs. 